Ends tomorrow

The Lower Mainland’s newest online marketplace will open on Monday, April 28, when LikeItBuyItVancouver.com begins previewing a limited-time sale of everything from household goods to consumer electronics to cruises, travel, cars, gift cards and personal services.

Photograph by: Elaine Thompson
, AP

RENTON, Wash. — Nothing like starting off at the top.

Chris Matthews, the Canadian Football League’s rookie of the year in 2012, joined his other Seattle Seahawks teammates on a night late last week as they slipped on their championship rings in a private ceremony at a downtown Seattle hotel.

A long-limbed receiver formerly with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the 24-year-old Matthews went into free agency in February and had a number of options among CFL and National Football League teams. He decided, however, to cast his lot with the Seahawks, who merely are the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Matthews looked on as veteran Seahawks slipped on the white gold rings, designed by Tiffany and Co., which feature the Vince Lombardi Trophy, comprised of one marquis diamond, surrounded by a sea of round diamonds with a border reading, “World Champions.”

“I definitely wanted to go (to the event) and get in some more bonding time with my new teammates before we break up,” Matthews says. “This team is competitive. Very, very competitive. You walk in early in the morning for some breakfast, and there’s guys out here (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) already getting work in. Even that’s competitive — the time you eat breakfast. It’s definitely a new experience for me, but I’m moving in the right direction to adapt to that.”

The Seahawks wound up a three-day mini-camp last week and don’t reconvene until training camp starts at the end of July. Matthews is returning to Long Beach, Calif., where he will continue his personal training in an attempt to crack the 53-man roster.

Bothered by a hamstring problem, he had some catching up to do in mini-camp after missing a number of sessions in the voluntary OTAs (organized team activities) earlier in the month. Yet reports are that Matthews did well when healthy. And the coaching staff was being cautious with his injury so that he would be fully ready to perform at training camp.

Assessing his prospects, he remains hopeful the Seahawks might find a place for him.

“I had five more options for NFL teams, but Schneider (Seahawks GM John Schneider) and the organization seemed like a good fit for me,” he says. “I wouldn’t say it’s been an easy transition. I’m still trying to crack the roster. It’s a learning process for me right now, as far as game speed. It’s not too fast for me. But it’s more detailed, knowing what to do and when to do it. In the CFL, the field was a lot wider, so you could get away with more. Here, you have to be more precise.”

It’s been 10 years since an NFL team repeated as Super Bowl champion, but there are solid reasons to believe the Seahawks might be able emulate the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots.

For one, their receiving corps is deeper, despite the loss of Golden Tate to the Detroit Lions via free agency.

Speed merchant Percy Harvin, who played only 37 snaps last season because of hip surgery, is flying and second-round draft pick Paul Richardson is another burner who can stretch a field. At the University of Colorado, Richardson had nine TD catches of 60-plus yards and four of 70-plus.

Head coach Pete Carroll touches on one area of improvement that might allow his team to keep the Lombardi trophy.

“We have a really good track meet right now,” Carroll quips. “We’re en route for the Olympics. It’s a really fast group (receivers). And it’s really exciting to see them catch the ball … the way we can get the ball downfield. Everybody’s projected to have a shot at it (making the 53-man roster).”

That includes Matthews, whose decision to test free agency was a reason the Blue Bombers pursued and signed Nick Moore, the leading receiver last season with the B.C. Lions.

While he lacks the flat-line speed of other Seahawk wide receivers, at 6-5 Matthews is the most physically imposing of the group — and thus represents an inviting target.

“Chris Matthews has done a really good job,” Carroll says. “He’s totally different than the rest of our guys. Unfortunately, he’s been banged up a bit, and hasn’t done all of the work. But Chris has shown really good stuff and style. He’s a big guy. And we’ve always appreciated big receivers. He has that. And I also like the variety he gives us. It’ll be a great competition. We would love to spread the variety of styles, if we can, and he’ll be in the mix.”

Sipping on a strong drink of belief, and buzzed by Carroll’s hopeful words, Matthews moves on in five weeks to training camp — the next step in perhaps proving an undrafted player from Kentucky belongs in the company of Super Bowl champions.

“When I went up to Canada, I just wanted to prove myself after I was released by the Cleveland Browns,” he says. “I wanted to show I could still play football. My goal since I started playing sports — not just football — was to place myself among the best who ever walked on the field. Period. That’s why I went to Canada. I want to stick with that plan.”

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.